Supporting leg structure



Jan. 10,1939. J.WHYTE 2,143,177

SUPPORT ING LEG STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 6, 1937 INVENTOR. Job, 72 ZU/z y 6 e.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES SUPPORTING LEG STRUCTURE John. Whyte', Chicago, Ill., assignor to Electric Household Utilities Corporation, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Application January 6, 1937, Serial No. 119,282

1 Claim.

This invention relates to supporting structures, and more particularly to supporting leg constructions such as for chairs, tables, table-like structures and various supporting structures for machines including household machines, such as washing machines, ironing machines, sewing machines, etc.

For certain types of work, or to suit the convenience of an individual, or due to association of an article of the general class indicated with other apparatus or articles, it is highly desirable that the supporting legs be made adjustable in length. For example, in the manufacture of washing machines it is desirable to standardize in construction as much as possible for the purpose of mass production and economy in fabrication. However, due to the different heights of diiferent individuals using such machines, and due to variation of height of equipment used in connection with such machines, such as washtubs, it has been found that machines of one height are not universally convenient for use.

By way of further illustration, one widely used ironing machine is constructed in a form known as the table top model which includes a housing for the ironer mechanism which may serve as a table top when the ironer mechanism is not in use. Due to the fact that the ironing machine is primarily designed to provide a convenient height for use by an individual in seated position, it is apparent that the top of the housing in closed position may be too high or too low to conveniently serve as a table.

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of this invention to provide a novel and improved supporting leg structure wherein the legs may be quickly and easily adjusted to vary the effective length thereof.

Another object resides in the provision of novel clamping means for firmly securing two telescopically associated members in any desired position of adjustment.

A further object is to provide a novel and improved clamp construction for fixedly securing two telescopically associated members in any desired position of adjustment and which is of simple practical form and capable of being economically manufactured.

Further objects and advantages of this inven tion will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the novel clamp element embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of telescopically adjustable elements provided with the" novel clamping means embodying the present in vention.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the clamp element in released position to-permit' relative movement of the telescoping'members.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing my novel clamping member in bind"- ing engagement with one of the telescoping members.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the clamping member in released position.

For purpose of illustration, let it be assumed that the invention as illustrated in the drawing represents a supporting leg structure adapted to be embodied in a table or support for a machine. etc., which is provided with a plurality of suitably spaced apart upright supporting elements, one of which is indicated generally at A, composed of two telescopically associated elements comprising an outer tubular member H], of cylindrical form, and an inner member ll, of cylindrical form, which may be either tubular or of solid form and which is adapted to extend into the member I0.

These members H] and II may be firmly secured together in any desired position of telescopic adjustment by the novel clamping means constituting the present invention comprising a clamping plate i2 which is herein shown of substantially annular form, provided with an aperture l3 through which the inner member H is adapted to extend. At the marginal edge of said plate I2 is a transversely extending portion Hi to which is connected and formed as an integral part thereof, a hook portion l5 extending in spaced apart approximate parallel relation to the plate 12. The free edge portion of said hook member I5 is adapted to engage in a groove or slot H, formed in the wall of the outer member Iii, adjacent the end of said member into which the inner member H extends. To insure proper support and anchorage of the hook I5 in the groove ll, the free edge of the hook is formed arcuately as indicated at l6 so that said arcuate edge will conform to the contour of the members and extend between a substantial circumferential portion of the opposite shoulders formed by the arcuate slot I! in the outer member l0.

Desirably the clamp member is formed as a stamping from a single piece of sheet metal which possesses a substantial degree of resiliency, and said member is formed so that the hook portion I5 is disposed at a slight angle to the plane of the plate portion l2 as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, so

that the spring of the metal will cause the marginal edges of said plate portion l2 which define the aperture l3 to tightly bind on the surface of the inner member II as seen in Fig. 4 to prevent relative movement of the members and H. The binding pressure of this clamp element may be quickly relieved by slight pressure on the outer portion of the member I2, opposite the hook end, so as to yieldingly dispose the plate portion I2 in a position substantially as indicated in Fig. 3 and Fig. 5, at which position the two telescopic members [0 and II are free for axial adjustment so that the inner member ll, if desired, may be moved to extended position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Immediately upon release of pressure on the outer end of said plate portion I2 the inherent spring force of the metal returns said plate portion [2 to the position as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4 so as to cause the marginal edges of said plate defining the aperture l3 to bite into the surface of the inner member H and secure the members l0 and I I in fixed position.

Obviously this novel clamping element may be satisfactorily employed in various other arrangements, such as by reversing the position of the elements seen in Figs. 1 and 2 so that the outer member It] would constitute the lower portion of the suporting leg. It will also be apparent that this novel form of clamp element is capable of use for securing two telescopically associated members firmly in a desired position of adjustment for use in constructions other than supporting constructions. I do not, therefore, wish to limit the present invention to the precise construction herein shown and described except as I may be so limited in the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

A structure of the character described, comprising a main tubular member and an inner member telescopically adjustable in one end of the tubular member, and means for securing said members in a desired position of telescopic adjustment, said means comprising an element formed with a hook engaging in a groove formed in the outer surface of the main tubular member and having a portion provided with an aperture through which the inner member extends, said hook engaging portion including an arcuate lip extending into said groove, said apertured portion being normally disposed at an oblique angle to cause the edge of said portion defining the aperture to bind on the exterior surface of said inner member.

JOHN WHYTE. 

